Beschreibung:

Title: A Journal of Ramblings Through the High Sierras of California by the "University Excursion Party" Author: LeConte, Joseph Place: San Francisco Publisher: Francis & Valentine Date: 1875 Description: 103 pp. With 9 original albumen photographs mounted on captioned leaves. 8½x5¼, original blue cloth stamped in gilt. First Edition. Rare account of a camping trip in the High Sierra undertaken by University of California professor or geology and history Joseph LeConte in July and August, 1870, accompanied by Professor Frank Soule, Jr., and eight members of the student body. This was LeConte's first trip to the Yosemite region, to be followed by ten more over the next thirty years. The work is notable for the excellent photographs, some featuring members of the party in the marvelous setting of Yosemite, others the scenic wonders uncluttered by human presence. Farquhar speculates that the pictures were taken by "one or more of the professional photographers who operated in Yosemite Valley." There were ten members of the party, and according to Joseph N. LeConte, the author's son, 12 copies of the book were produced for each member, making a run of 120 copies in all. Curry & Kruska 230; Farquhar 14a; Howes L175. Lot Amendments Condition: Slight darkening to spine and cover margins, a few faint stains, bubfles to rear cover cloth; bold inscription from Louisa Snook Francis to Thomas W. Snook, dated San Francisco, 1890, to title-page, mild fading to spine of the photographs, 2 mounts with marginal tears, still a near fine, tight copy. Item number: 183876